Easy Air Fryer Apple Fritters

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These air fryer apple fritters take only minutes to make and have all the cozy flavor of traditional apple fritters-without deep frying. They're soft and tender inside, lightly crisp around the edges, and finished with a sweet vanilla glaze.

It's safe to say I am quickly becoming obsessed with air fryer desserts. Because apple fritters are one of my favorite fall treats, I knew I had to create an easy air fryer version.

If you're loving air fryer desserts too, my Air Fryer Oreos and Air Fryer Apples are two more reader favorites that come together just as quickly.

My husband claims this is one of his favorite recipes, which is pretty high praise! I can see why: the fritters are easy to make gluten free (though you can make them with AP flour), eggless, and much easier and less messy to make than traditional deep-fried fritters.

Fresh apples, applesauce, cinnamon, and a classic glaze give them plenty of warm apple flavor. Make a batch on a crisp fall day and enjoy them with a cup of coffee.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
• Why This Air Fryer Fritter Recipe Works
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Looking for more fall baking inspiration?
• 📖 Recipe
• Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• The fritters have all the warm apple and cinnamon flavor of traditional fritters without deep frying.
• The batter comes together quickly by hand, so no electric mixer or rising time is needed.
• They're naturally eggless and can easily be made dairy free.
• The sweet vanilla glaze is the perfect finishing touch.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Flour

My favorite gluten free flour blend is Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 flour. I use this flour in every recipe unless otherwise noted. If you are using a different blend, make sure it contains xanthan gum. And, if you are not following a gluten free diet, you can absolutely use AP flour.

Applesauce

Make sure you're using smooth, unsweetened applesauce with no added sugar. Homemade applesauce will also work as long as it is smooth and not overly watery.

Milk

Whole milk, 2% milk, or your favorite non-dairy milk will all work in both the batter and the glaze. Because different milks vary in thickness, you may need to adjust the amount slightly when making the glaze.

Apples

I love using Honeycrisp apples because they stay slightly firm after cooking while adding plenty of natural sweetness. Granny Smith apples are another great choice if you prefer a more tart apple fritter. No matter which variety you use, dice the apples into small, even pieces so they cook through in the short air fryer cooking time.

If you're looking for another cozy apple dessert, my Chewy Apple Cinnamon Cookies use applesauce instead of fresh apples for an entirely different take on fall baking.

Why This Air Fryer Fritter Recipe Works

• A combination of fresh apples and applesauce gives these fritters plenty of apple flavor while keeping the inside soft and tender.
• The air fryer creates lightly crisp edges without deep frying, so you get the classic apple fritter experience with much less oil.
• The glaze adds the signature sweet finish that makes these taste just like a bakery-style apple fritter.
• Using baking powder instead of yeast means there's no rising time, so the fritters come together in about 20 minutes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

STEP ONE: Start by combining the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Give that a quick whisk and set it aside.

STEP TWO: Next, grab a larger bowl and stir the sugar with the melted butter.

STEP THREE: Add in the applesauce, milk, and vanilla and keep stirring.

STEP FOUR: Now add the dry ingredients right into the wet ingredients and stir until combined.

STEP FIVE: Fold in your diced apples and, you're ready to start air frying!

STEP SIX: Lightly grease the air fryer basket or add an air fryer liner, then preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Scoop about ¼ cup of batter per fritter and arrange the fritters in a single layer, leaving space between them. Cook for 5-6 minutes, working in batches if necessary.

The fritters should look lightly golden around the edges and feel set on the outside. The centers may still feel slightly soft when you remove them from the air fryer, but they will continue to firm up as they cool for a few minutes before glazing.

STEP SEVEN: While the fritters are cooking, make your glaze. All you have to do here is stir together the powdered sugar and milk until you have a drizzling consistency. For a thinner glaze, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time.

Let the fritters cool for 5-10 minutes before drizzling the glaze on top. They should still be slightly warm, but not piping hot; otherwise, the glaze may melt into the fritters instead of setting on the surface. These are best enjoyed the day they're made, although leftovers can be stored for later.

Expert Tips

• As always, I highly recommend using a scale to weigh the flour. This will ensure accuracy, as using measuring cups can sometimes inadvertently lead to adding in too much flour. We'll need 222 grams of flour for this recipe.
• Dice the apples into pieces no larger than ¼ inch. Larger chunks can make it harder for the fritters to hold together and may not soften completely during the short cook time.
• You may need to use your hands to press the fritters together as you're forming them and placing them in the basket. The batter will be sticky.
• All air fryers are different. When I preheat mine, I just set it to the desired temperature and set a timer for 2 minutes. This usually warms it up just enough.
• You can either grease your air fryer basket or use air fryer liners.
• Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer basket! Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches. You want the fritters arranged in a single layer and not piled on top of each other.
• If you're cooking in batches, keep the finished fritters on a wire rack instead of stacking them. This helps prevent steam from softening the outside.
• For a smooth glaze, you'll want to sift your powdered sugar. I will be the first to say that I don't think this is always necessary in every recipe but I did find that it works better here.
• And when it comes to glaze, I always recommend adding the milk one tablespoon at a time, so you can really control how thin or thick it gets. If you do accidentally thin it out with too much milk, go ahead and add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
• For the crispiest fritters, glaze them after they've cooled for 5-10 minutes. If they're still too hot, the glaze will melt right off instead of setting into that classic crackly finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more cozy autumn baking, don't miss my roundup of the best gluten-free fall desserts.

Did you try my air fryer apple fritters? Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram @justastastyblog and #justastastyblog! And don't forget to subscribe to get new recipes directly in your inbox.

Looking for more fall baking inspiration?

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